LOGINAutumn I take a breath and start talking. “I had reached out to Luke first because I hadn’t seen him in a while, but I didn’t get a response from him. He doesn’t really do social media all that often, so he didn’t see it. Then I saw an article about Elijah’s company online and it made me want to check in and see how things were going. He answered, and we chatted back and forth for a while. I asked him how Benedict and Luke were doing, and he told me that they weren’t really on the best terms lately, so I had to reach out to them individually.”“They did seem chilly toward each other at dinner,” Rhiannon admits. “They haven’t been speaking?”“Not really.”“But they were fine with all dating the same woman? Doesn’t sound like the kind of thing that would work out if they were in the middle of some kind of rivalry.”“It’s not about rivalry,” I tell her. “You know their mom died, right?”“Yeah, and?”“And it fucked things up between them for a while. It’s their business, so I won’t go in
Autumn “How does it look?” Elijah asks, coming to stand next to me.I take in the sight of the tree and the decorated mantle, the result of hard work from people who actually care.“It’s beautiful,” I say sincerely. “Thank you.”“We’re not done yet.” Luke grabs a bag from the floor. “Do you have a ladder?”“There should be one in the shed. What are you going to use it for?”“Lights on the house. All the other houses in the neighborhood have them, and yours shouldn’t be left out.”“Oh, you don’t have to do that,” I tell him. “It’s so cold out.”But he’s already pulling his coat and boots on and heading for the back door. “I thought Benedict told you to make use of us.”“He did, but—”“No buts,” Elijah says, following his brother’s lead.“Can I at least help you?”“Nah, we’ve got it. You stay in here where it’s warm.”I make a face at him, but then brighten. “Well, I’ll help by making a treat for you all. I’ll make those scones we started last night before we all got distracted.”The
Autumn All of my excitement comes back in a rush when I see the haul of stuff we got. The tree has a place of honor in the bed of Benedict’s truck, all of our bags and boxes of things wrapped up around it. I’m buzzing for the whole drive back to the house, although the guys also insist on stopping at a hardware store to get some stuff they’ll use to fix my bed.Once we’ve unloaded everything into my house, Benedict brushes off his hands, looking around at it all.“What do you think?” he asks the other two. “Bed first, or decorating?”“Bed,” Elijah says decisively. “Save the more fun part for last.”“Good plan.”They grab the brackets, wood glue, and other materials they bought from the hardware store, and I follow them into the bedroom. I don’t know much about furniture repair, but I definitely want to watch them work—and be there to lend a hand in the very unlikely chance that the three of them need it.Just as I suspected, they don’t. With the three men working together, Operation
Autumn We need lights!” I declare. “And tinsel. And pretty ornaments.”There’s a department store in town, but there’s also a specialty shop that only opens right after Thanksgiving. They sell all sorts of decorations, from mass produced ornaments and lights, to delicate hand blown glass pieces that are one of a kind. I’ve shopped there a few times for things to decorate the little fake Christmas tree I put up in the bakery, and for gifts, mostly for my mom who loves that sort of thing.But I’ve never gone in just to get something for myself.Without me even saying anything about it, Benedict drives us over.When I look at him in surprise, he winks at me. “I know you,” he says simply and gets out of the truck.The shop is much bigger than it looks from the outside, and we all grab baskets and start making our way down the aisles.“Colorful lights or white lights?” I ask, holding up two boxes.“Colorful,” Benedict and Luke say in unison.“White,” Elijah says. “White is more classic.
Autumn The snow is falling in peaceful little flakes by the time we get back to the house. If it wasn’t for the streets and people’s yards being covered, you wouldn’t even know it was nearly a blizzard just twenty minutes before.We pull up and I go to unlock the door while Benedict gets the new coffee machine out of the truck. He brings it in behind me, and goes to put it in the kitchen.Elijah and Luke are both at the house, Elijah in the office doing something on his phone while Luke reads in the living room. There’s a fire going in the fireplace, so the house is warm and toasty, and it feels nice to come home to.“Family meeting!” Benedict calls from the kitchen, breaking the quiet.“Who do you think you are, our dad?” Luke mutters, but he marks his place in his book and puts it aside anyway. He smiles at me, kissing my cheek as he passes to step into the kitchen.Elijah comes in a moment later, one eyebrow raised. “You called?”“I sure did.” Benedict folds his arms. “We have a p
Autumn “Autumn never decorates for Christmas. I don’t know why that would have changed this year. It’s like she never bothers to make the effort.” “Couldn’t tell you. She just asked us to help this year,” Benedict says. I suck my way up his cock, swirling my tongue around the head of him to tease. My scalp tingles pleasantly as he grips my hair tighter, showing how close he is just from that. “Listen, about Autumn,” Raymond is saying, but Benedict is done. “Look, I need to, uh, get back on the road in a bit, and I need to make a phone call first. Work stuff. So I’ll see you later.” “But—” “Bye, Raymond,” Benedict says firmly. He rolls the window back up and I keep going. I can practically taste how close he is, and the power I have over him is going right to my head. This is so naughty and illicit, and while Raymond is annoying, something about doing this right under my ex’s nose just makes it even better. Raymond leaves, and Benedict lets out a string of curses. “F







